Devices and methods for providing localized haptic effects to a display screen

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods for providing localized haptic effects are provided. The devices include a haptically enabled display device having one or more haptic actuators. The one or more haptic actuators are located in a non-viewing area of a display screen of a haptically enabled display device and cause localized haptic effects in a viewing area of the display screen. The haptically enabled display device includes a processor configured to determine haptic control signals for activating the haptic actuators. The haptic control signal activates the one or more haptic actuators to provide a localized haptic effect at a target location in the viewing area, remote from the non-viewing area location of the one or more haptic actuators.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments hereof relate to devices and methods for providing localizedhaptic effects to a display screen. In particular, embodiments hereofinclude haptically enabled display devices having haptic actuatorslocated outside of a viewing area of a display screen and configured toprovide localized haptic effects inside the viewing area of the displayscreen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional display screens frequently include devices for providinghaptic feedback to a user of the device. Haptic feedback in displayscreens may be provided by haptic actuators that cause the entirety ofthe display screen to shake and/or vibrate. Actuating the entirety of adisplay screen can cause difficulties, particularly as the size of thedisplay screen gets larger. Providing a haptic effect across theentirety of the display screen, when a user is only touching the displayscreen in one or two places, is inefficient. Further, providing thehaptic effect across the entirety of the display screen does not permithaptic effects to be delivered selectively. Each body part touching thedisplay screen will experience the same haptic effect, regardless ofwhether the haptic effect is intended for each body part.

These and other drawbacks exist with conventional haptically enableddisplay devices. These drawbacks are address by the inventions describedherein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include haptically enabled display devicesconfigured for the provision of localized haptic effects. A hapticallyenabled display device according to embodiments of the invention has oneor more haptic actuators located outside of a viewing area of a displayscreen of the haptically enabled display device. When activated atspecific amplitudes and frequencies determined according tocharacteristics of the display device, the haptic actuators can providelocalized haptic effects at specific target locations within the viewingarea of the display device. Accordingly, the haptic actuators canoperate more efficiently than in conventional techniques, by providingthe haptic effects only at specific locations. Additionally, hapticactuators located outside of the viewing area will not obscure anyportion of the images provided by the display device. Furthermore, thehaptic actuators can deliver the haptic effects selectively and only toareas of the display device where experience of the haptic effect isdesired.

In an embodiment, a haptically enabled display device is provided. Thehaptically enabled display device includes a display screen having aviewing area and a non-viewing area, the display screen comprising aplurality of display components configured for providing a visualdisplay in the viewing area. The haptically enabled display devicefurther includes a plurality of haptic actuators secured to the displayscreen in the non-viewing area and at least one processor. The at leastone processor is configured to select at least one haptic actuator fromamong the plurality of haptic actuators, to determine a haptic controlsignal configured to activate the at least one haptic actuator and tothereby cause a localized haptic effect at a target location in theviewing area of the display screen, and transmit the haptic controlsignal to the at least one haptic actuator to cause the localized hapticeffect at the target location.

In another embodiment, a method of delivering haptic effects to adisplay screen having a viewing area and a non-viewing area is provided.The display screen includes a plurality of display components configuredfor providing a visual display in the viewing area. The method includesselecting, by at least one processor, at least one haptic actuator fromamong a plurality of haptic actuators secured to the display screen inthe non-viewing area, determining, by the at least one processor, ahaptic control signal configured to activate the at least one hapticactuator so as to cause a localized haptic effect at a target locationin the viewing area of the display screen, transmitting the hapticcontrol signal to the at least one haptic actuator, and causing, by theat least one haptic actuator, the localized haptic effect at the targetlocation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description of embodiments hereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings,which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification,further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable aperson skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. Thedrawings are not to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a haptically enabled display device in accordancewith an embodiment hereof.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating aspects of the hapticallyenabled display device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate structural aspects of a haptically enableddisplay device in accordance with an embodiment hereof.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate vibrational modes of a haptically enabled displaydevice in accordance with embodiments hereof.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate target locations for haptic effects on a displayscreen in accordance with embodiments hereof.

FIG. 6 illustrates a haptically enabled display device having fixedtarget locations in accordance with embodiments hereof.

FIG. 7 illustrates a haptically enabled display device having hapticactuators located within the display area of the display screen inaccordance with embodiments hereof.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an alternative embodiment of a hapticallyenabled display device in accordance herewith.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an alternative embodiment of a hapticallyenabled display device in accordance herewith.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a haptically enableddisplay device in accordance herewith.

FIG. 11 is a process diagram illustrating a process of providinglocalized haptic effects in accordance with an embodiment hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described withreference to the figures. The following detailed description is merelyexemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or theapplication and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is nointention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented inthe preceding technical field, background, brief summary or thefollowing detailed description.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to haptically enableddisplay devices configured to provide localized haptic effects.Haptically enabled display devices in accordance with embodimentsdescribed herein include haptic actuators arranged outside of a viewingarea of a display or display screen of the haptically enabled displaydevice and configured to cause localized haptic effects inside theviewing area. The haptic actuators may be arranged around a periphery ofthe viewing area of the display screen and, in accordance withembodiments hereof, may be arranged on an opposite side of the displayscreen from the viewing area. A processor associated with the hapticallyenabled display device activates one or more of the haptic actuators toestablish a standing wave interference pattern in the viewing area tocause a localized haptic effect in a target location of the viewingarea, while causing only substantially imperceptible haptic effects inareas outside of the target location. The haptic actuators located inthe non-viewing area of a display screen thus provide localized hapticeffects in the viewing area of the display screen.

For example, a haptically enabled display device according to anembodiment hereof may include an in-dashboard display screen in a car.The haptic actuators may be located in a non-viewing area of thein-dashboard display screen, thus providing as large of a viewing areaas possible. When a user interacts with the in-dashboard display screen,they may do so by touch, while keeping their eyes on the road. Thein-dashboard display screen may be configured to provide localizedhaptic effects to target locations on a screen of the in-dashboarddisplay screen that the user is touching, thus providing information andfeedback to the user even though the user is not viewing the screen.

In another example, an interactive subway map may include a largedigital display screen. It may be impractical or expensive to hapticallyactuate the entire display screen or to include enough actuators mountedto specific portions of the display screen to actuate the specificportions. Haptic actuators according to embodiments hereof may beincluded in a non-viewing area of the display screen to providelocalized haptic effects to specific locations of the display screen asa user interacts with it.

In yet another example, a user's tablet, smartphone, phablet, or otherpersonal device may include haptic actuators according to embodimentshereof included in a non-viewing area of a display screen. By locatingthe actuators in a non-viewing area, no portion of the display screen isobscured. Further, by activating only a portion of the display screenbased on a user's interaction, less power may be consumed, conservingbattery life. Additionally, the system may offer unique hapticexperiences. For example, the system may provide multiple localizedhaptic effects to correspond to a user's multi-contact touch with adevice touchscreen. The multiple localized haptic effects may differ,e.g., a user may feel a stronger or different haptic effect with eachfinger that contacts the touchscreen. Multiple localized haptic effectsmay be used to efficiently communicate haptic feedback to a user in waysthat are not possible through activation of the entirety of the devicetouchscreen.

The foregoing examples and others are consistent with the embodimentsdiscussed below.

Embodiments described herein relate to devices and systems that includea haptically enabled display device having a computer system and adisplay screen. Computer systems consistent with the present inventionmay be configured as a gaming console, a handheld gaming device, apersonal computer (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer, etc.), asmartphone, a tablet computing device, a television, an interactivesign, and/or other device that can be programmed to provide a hapticcontrol signal. The computer system may include one or more processors(also interchangeably referred to herein as processors, processor(s), orprocessor for convenience), one or more memory units, audio outputs,user input elements, a communication unit or units, and/or othercomponents. Computer system processors may be programmed by one or morecomputer program instructions to carry out methods described herein.Communication units consistent with the present invention may includeany connection device, wired or wireless, that may transmit orcommunicate with peripheral devices.

In alternative embodiments, haptically enabled display devices inaccordance herewith may be provided separately from computer systemsconfigured to provide haptic control signals to the haptically enableddisplay device. Such computer systems may include one or moreprocessors, one or more memory units, audio outputs, user inputelements, a haptic communication unit or units, and/or other components.Such computer system processors may be programmed by one or morecomputer program instructions to carry out methods described herein byhaptic control signals transmitted to the haptically enabled displaydevice via the haptic communication unit(s). Haptic communication unitsconsistent with the present invention may include any connection device,wired or wireless, that may transmit or communicate a haptic controlsignal from a processor to haptic actuators associated with thehaptically enabled display device. In embodiments hereof, a hapticcommunication unit may be a dedicated unit configured solely fordelivering a haptic control signal. In further embodiments, a hapticcommunication unit may further function to deliver a myriad of othercommunications, wired or wirelessly, to an external device.

Haptically enabled display devices include devices having one or morehaptic actuators for delivering a haptic effect to a display screen ofthe haptically enabled display device. In embodiments hereof, hapticallyenabled display devices may be devices that include one or more hapticactuators that directly receive haptic control signals, for example,from the processor of the haptically enabled display device, foractuation. In additional embodiments, haptically enabled display devicesmay further include one or more processors that may process or interpreta haptic output signal received from a remote device before deliveringthe haptic control signal to the one or more haptic actuators. Infurther embodiments, haptically enabled display devices may also includeuser input elements, e.g., control elements such as triggers, buttons,joysticks, joypads, etc., to permit a user to interact with a computersystem. Haptically enabled display devices may include hapticallyenabled peripheral devices, which are devices designed to function asaccessory or peripheral units to a central device, such as a computersystem consistent with embodiments hereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a haptically enabled display device 100 in accordancewith an embodiment hereof. The haptically enabled display device 100includes a display screen 106 and a housing 101. The display screen 106includes a viewing area 111 and a non-viewing area 110. The hapticallyenabled display device 100 further includes a plurality of hapticactuators 105 secured to the display screen 106 in the non-viewing area110. The housing 101 and the display screen 106 may be flexible or maybe rigid.

The display screen 106 includes a plurality of display components (notshown) configured for providing images for a visual display in theviewing area 111. The display screen 106 may be any type of displayscreen known in the art, including, for example, a light emitting diode(LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an LED-backlit LCD, anorganic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an active matrix organiclight emitting diode (AMOLED) display, a plasma display, and others. Forexample, an OLED display includes organic light emitting diodes asdisplay components, while an LCD includes liquid crystals as displaycomponents. Other display types may include other types of displaycomponents. The plurality of display components are arranged so as toprovide a visual display in the viewing area 111 of the display screen106 and such that no visual display is provided in the non-viewing area110 of the display screen 106. In accordance with embodiments hereof,the viewing area 111 may be located above areas of the display screen106 having display components and the non-viewing area 110 may belocated above areas of the display screen 106 devoid of displaycomponents.

In FIG. 1 the non-viewing area 110 surrounds a periphery of and forms aborder around the viewing area 111. This arrangement is exemplary only.The viewing area 111 and the non-viewing area 110 are not required toform regular shapes as shown in FIG. 1, and may be interspersed. Forexample, the viewing area 111 may include irregular projections into thenon-viewing area 110. In accordance with embodiments hereof, thenon-viewing area 110 may border the viewing area 111 on only one, two,or three sides of the viewing area 111, rather than the four sides shownin FIG. 1. Alternative arrangements of the viewing area 111 and thenon-viewing area 110 may be employed without departing from the scope ofthe invention. In accordance with embodiments hereof, the viewing area111 may extend to all portions of the display screen 106 that do notinclude haptic actuators 105.

In other embodiments, the haptically enabled display device 100 mayinclude a display screen 106 without a housing 101. A display screen 106of the haptically enabled display device 100 with no housing may includeany or all of the other components described herein. Thus, a hapticallyenabled display device 100 having a display screen 106 without a housing101 may be configured to be installed or mounted to an externallyprovided or custom-built housing. In accordance with embodiments hereof,the haptically enabled display device 100 may include a display screen106 without a housing 101 that is adapted for use without any sort ofhousing. For example, the display screen 106 may include a flexible OLEDdisplay or an electronic paper display. In such embodiments, thenon-viewing area 110 and viewing area 111 may be arranged on a same sideof the display screen 106, as discussed above, or may be arranged onopposite sides of the display screen 106. In accordance with embodimentshereof, a first non-viewing area 110 may be located on an opposite sideof the display screen 106 as the viewing area 111, as shown anddescribed with reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B, or a secondnon-viewing area 110 may be located on a same side of the display screenas the viewing area 111.

The haptically enabled display device 100 includes a plurality of hapticactuators 105 secured to the display screen 106. The haptic actuators105 may include any suitable actuator known in the art. For example, thehaptic actuators 105 may include thin film actuators, such asmacro-fiber composite (MFC) actuators, piezoelectric material actuators,smart material actuators, electro-polymer actuators, and others. Thehaptic actuators 105 may further include inertial or kinesthetic hapticactuators, eccentric rotating mass (“ERM”) haptic actuators in which aneccentric mass is moved by a motor, linear resonant haptic actuators(“LRAs”) in which a mass attached to a spring is driven back and forth,vibrotactile haptic actuators, shape memory alloys, and/or anycombination of haptic actuators described above.

The arrangement of the haptic actuators 105 on all four sides of thehaptically enabled display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is by way ofexample not limitation. Alternative arrangements may be used indifferent embodiments of the invention. For example, more or fewerhaptic actuators 105 may be used, and the haptic actuators 105 may bearranged in any number on only one side, two sides or three sides of theviewing area 111. In accordance with embodiments hereof, larger hapticactuators 105 may be used to reduce the number needed for providing alocalized haptic effect, with each of the larger haptic actuators 105extending along an entire length of the viewing area 111 on one or moresides thereof. In accordance with embodiments hereof, a singlecontinuous haptic actuator 105 may be used, as described with referenceto FIG. 10 below.

In accordance with embodiments hereof, the display screen 106 may berigidly secured to the housing 101. Because the provision of localizedhaptic effects by the haptic actuators 105 does not rely on conventionalactuation of an entire display screen, the display screen 106 may besecured to the housing without suspension elements. Rigid attachment ofthe display screen 106 to the housing 101 is optional, however, and isnot a requirement of the invention. In further embodiments, the displayscreen 106 may be mounted to the housing 101 via suspension elements.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating aspects of the hapticallyenabled display device 100 of FIG. 1. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2, the haptically enabled display device 100 includes at least oneprocessor 108, at least one memory unit 120, one or more hapticactuators 105, a display screen 106, a housing 101, audio outputs 109,user input elements 110, and a communication unit 112.

The haptically enabled display device 100 may include one or moreprocessors 108, one or more memory units 120, and/or other components.The processors 108 may be programmed by one or more computer programinstruction stored in the memory unit(s) 120. The functionality of theprocessor 108, as described herein, may be implemented by softwarestored in the memory unit(s) 120 or another computer-readable ortangible medium, and executed by the processor 108. As used herein, forconvenience, the various instructions may be described as performing anoperation, when, in fact, the various instructions program theprocessors 108 to perform the operation. In other embodiments, thefunctionality of the processor may be performed by hardware (e.g.,through the use of an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”),a programmable gate array (“PGA”), a field programmable gate array(“FPGA”), etc.), or any combination of hardware and software.

The various instructions described herein may be stored in the memoryunit(s) 120, which may comprise random access memory (RAM), read onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, and/or any other memory suitable for storingsoftware instructions. The memory unit(s) 120 may store the computerprogram instructions (e.g., the aforementioned instructions) to beexecuted by the processor 108 as well as data that may be manipulated bythe processor 108.

The user input elements 110 may include any elements suitable foraccepting user input. These may include buttons, switches, dials,levers, touchscreens, and the like. User input elements 110 may furtherinclude peripherally connected devices, such as mice, joysticks, gamecontrollers, keyboards, and the like.

The communication unit 112 includes one or more devices or componentsconfigured for external communication. The communication unit mayinclude wired communication ports, such as USB ports, HDMI® ports, A/Vports, optical cable ports, and any other component or device configuredto receive or send information in a wired fashion. The communicationunit may further include wireless communication devices, such asBLUETOOTH® antennas, WI-FI® antennas, cellular antennas, infraredsensors, optical sensors, and any other device configured to receiveand/or transmit information wirelessly.

Although illustrated in FIG. 2 as being located within the housing 101,in alternative embodiments, the processor 108 may be located external tothe housing 101 of the haptically enabled display device 100. Asdiscussed above, some embodiments of the haptically enabled displaydevice 100 may not include a housing 101, and thus processor 108 may belocated remotely. In additional embodiments, the processor 108 mayinclude multiple interconnected processors, some of which may be locatedwithin housing 101 and some of which may be located external to thehousing 101. In still further embodiments, the processor 108 may includecloud processors configured to provide the haptically enabled displaydevice 100 with a haptic control signal.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate construction of the display screen 106 of thehaptically enabled display device 100 in accordance with embodimentshereof. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the haptically enabled display device100, while FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 3A. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the display screen 106 isconstructed of a transparent layer 301 and a substrate 302. A pluralityof display components 303 are located on the substrate 302. The displaycomponents 303 are arranged on the substrate 302 to define a displayportion 311 of the substrate 302. A non-display portion 310 of thesubstrate 302, which borders the display portion 311, remains free ofthe display components 303. The transparent layer 301, which maycomprise glass, plastic, and/or any other transparent material, overlaysthe substrate 302, extending over both the display portion 311 and thenon-display portion 310. The display screen 106 may be secured tohousing 101, which may be a rigid or flexible housing. In the embodimentillustrated, the housing 101 is a rigid housing. The haptically enableddisplay device 100 further includes a component space 320 within thehousing 101. The component space 320 is configured to contain additionalcomponentry required by the haptically enabled display device,including, for example, the processor 108 and the memory 120, as well asother components.

The construction of the haptically enabled display device 100illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B may be consistent with construction ofLED screens, LCD screens, OLED screens, plasma screens, AMOLED screens,and other types of flat panel displays that include a transparentmaterial, e.g., glass or plastic, overlaying componentry for producing avisual display. The substrate 302 and the display components 303 arerepresentative of different technology dependent mounting structures anddisplay producing elements used for producing a visual display. Despitedifferences in the exact details of the substrate 302 and the displaycomponents 303 between the various flat panel technologies discussed, inthe embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the haptic actuators 105 remainlocated between the transparent layer 301 and the substrate 302.

In embodiments, the display screen 106 may not require transparent layer301 overlaying the substrate 302 and display components 303. In suchembodiments, the display components 303 of the display screen 106 may beconfigured for direct contact with a user.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the positioning of various components of thedisplay screen 106, including the transparent layer 301, substrate 302,display portion 311, and non-display portion 310, relative to theviewing area 111, and non-viewing area 110. Also illustrated is therelative positioning of the haptic actuators 105 to the variouscomponents of the display screen 106. The display portion 311 of thesubstrate 302, as defined by the arrangement of the display components303, corresponds to the viewing area 111 of the display screen 106, ascan be seen in FIG. 3A. The arrangement of the display components 303provides a visual display in the display portion 311 which may be viewedthrough the transparent layer 301. The display portion 311 of thesubstrate 302 defines the viewing area 111 of the display screen 106,and thus has substantially the same dimensions. The non-display portion310 of the substrate 302 defines the non-viewing area 110 and thus hassubstantially the same dimensions. The non-viewing area 110 and thenon-display portion 310 may be located around a periphery of the viewingarea 111 and the display portion 311. The haptic actuators 105 arelocated in the non-viewing area 110 of the display screen 106, and thusno portion of the viewing area 111 or the visual display produced by thedisplay components 303 in the display portion 311 is obscured orobstructed by the haptic actuators 105.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the non-viewing area 110 and thenon-display portion 310 may surround the viewing area 111 and thedisplay portion 311 on four sides, forming a complete enclosure orframe. In alternative embodiments, the non-viewing area 110 and thenon-display portion 310 may partially surround the viewing area 111 andthe display portion 311. In additional embodiments, the non-viewing area110 and the non-display portion 310 may be located on only one, two, orthree sides of the viewing area 111 and the display portion 311,permitting the viewing area to extend to the edges of the display screen106. In further embodiments, the non-viewing area 110 and thenon-display portion 310 may be discontinuous on any of one, two, three,and/or four sides of the viewing area 111 and the display portion 311,permitting the viewing area 111 to have lateral segments that extend tothe edges of the display screen 106.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the haptic actuators 105 aresecured to the transparent layer 301 between the transparent layer 301and the substrate 302. The haptic actuators 105 may be thin film hapticactuators. As shown in FIG. 3B, the haptic actuators 105 are located ina non-display portion 310 of the substrate 302, corresponding to anon-viewing area 110 of the display screen 106. FIG. 3B illustrates thesubstrate 302 having a cut-out or indentation 345 to accommodate thethickness of the haptic actuators 105. In alternative embodiments, nocut-out or indentation 345 is provided, and the haptic actuators 105 aresandwiched between the substrate 302 and the transparent layer 301. Inother embodiments, the haptic actuators 105 do not contact the substrate302, and are secured to the transparent layer 301 with a gap between thesubstrate 302 and the haptic actuators 105. In further embodiments, thehaptic actuators 105 are secured to the transparent layer 301 viaadhesive.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B is an example only of thehaptically enabled display device 100 and the display screen 106. Thehaptically enabled display device 100 and the display screen 106 may beconstructed in alternative ways consistent with additional embodimentsdisclosed herein. While some description refers directly to componentsand aspects of this embodiment, it will be understood by those of skillin the art that the principals of the invention may be applied toalternative embodiments, some of which are further described below.

With reference now to FIG. 2, FIGS. 4A-4C, and FIGS. 5A-5C operation ofthe haptically enabled display device 100 is explained. The processor108 determines a haptic control signal configured to activate one ormore of the haptic actuators 105 to cause localized haptic effects atone or more target locations of the viewing area 111 according tovibrational modes of the display screen 106. FIGS. 4A-C illustrate theprinciples of vibrational modes of the haptically enabled display device100 in accordance with embodiments hereof, while FIGS. 5A-5C illustratetarget locations 400 for haptic effects in accordance with embodimentshereof.

The display screen 106 of the haptically enabled display device 100,like all structures, has multiple vibrational modes that depend on thecharacteristics of the screen (e.g., size, thickness, stiffness, etc.)and its mounting. A vibrational, or normal, mode of a system describesan oscillating or vibrating pattern of movement in which the parts ofthe system oscillate sinusoidally at the same frequency and in phasewith one another. Each vibrational mode of a system corresponds to aspecific fixed frequency, i.e., a natural or resonant frequency. Asystem has multiple vibrational modes at different frequencies, and mayoscillate according to the superposition of two or more of the multiplevibrational modes. The vibrational modes of the display screen 106depend on the material, size, shape, thickness, mounting structure, andother aspects of its construction. When the display screen 106 issubject to vibrations at the specific frequencies equal to the naturalfrequencies of the vibrational modes, e.g., through activation of thehaptic actuators 105, the frequency response of the display screen 106includes standing waves that establish a standing wave pattern accordingto the corresponding vibrational mode. By activating one or more of thehaptic actuators at specific frequencies and amplitudes, the processor108 can cause a multitude of standing waves that, together, form astanding wave interference pattern. The standing wave interferencepattern can be shaped by the processor 108 to produce localized hapticeffects at specific target locations 400.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate this principle in one dimension, along the lengthof a structure 500. FIG. 4A shows a first standing wave 521A extendingacross the structure 500. In the first standing wave 521A, the nodes522A have a minimum amplitude of displacement and the antinodes 523Ahave a maximum amplitude of displacement. Thus, when a haptic actuatoris activated at the appropriate frequency to generate the first standingwave 521A in the structure 500, a haptic effect may be felt moststrongly at the location(s) of the antinodes 523A and felt minimally ornot at all at the location(s) of the nodes 522A. FIG. 4B illustrates theaddition of a second standing wave 521B having nodes 522B and antinodes523B. The second standing wave 521B is shown in dashed lines. For thesake of clarity, the nodes 522A and antinodes 523A are not labeled inFIG. 4B. For the sake of clarity, only three of the nine antinodes 523Bare labeled in FIG. 4B. The second standing wave 521B is twice thefrequency of the first standing wave 521A. The second standing wave 521Bmay be caused by a second haptic actuator or by the same haptic actuatorthat caused the first standing wave 521A. Each haptic actuator may beexcited at multiple superposed frequencies, causing multiple standingwaves. When the structure 500 hosts the multiple standing waves,superposition of the amplitudes of the first and second standing waves521A and 521B creates an interference pattern. The superposition of thefirst standing wave 521A and the second standing wave 521B creates theinterference standing wave 521C, illustrated in FIG. 4C. Theinterference standing wave 521C includes amplitude maximum locations 525and amplitude minimum locations 526. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, thefirst standing wave 521A and the second standing wave 521B may interfereconstructively, to form increased displacement amplitudes, and mayinterfere destructively, to form decreased or cancelled displacementamplitudes. Amplitude maximum locations 525 represent the locations atwhich the displacement is at a maximum amplitude. Amplitude minimumlocations 526 represent the locations at which the displacement is at aminimum amplitude. Haptic effects may be felt most strongly at or nearamplitude maximum locations 525 and most weakly at or near amplitudeminimum locations 526. FIG. 4C illustrates a simple superposition of twostanding waves 521A and 521B to create an interference standing wave521C. This principle can be extended to using three or more standingwaves of different frequencies and amplitudes, selected to create aninterference standing wave having a desirable pattern of amplitudemaximum locations and amplitude minimum locations to produce hapticeffects at specific discrete areas along structure 500.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the principles of standing waves in a singledimension for ease of understanding. The examples shown illustrate onlya very small number of possible standing wave patterns in a singledimension. These examples illustrate the principles of standing wavepatterns, which are implemented in greater complexity across thetwo-dimensional display screen 106 to provide the localized hapticeffects discussed herein. Many more standing wave patterns are possible,depending on the dynamics of the haptically enabled display device 100,including the mass, damping, and stiffness of the various components, aswell as the placement and driving frequencies of the haptic actuators105. With reference now to FIGS. 5A-5C, in the haptically enableddisplay device 100, these principles are applied in two dimensionsacross the surface of the display screen 106.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate target locations 400 for haptic effects on thedisplay screen 106 in accordance with embodiments hereof. Each of FIGS.5A-5C show the display screen 106 with a plurality of haptic actuators105 located in the non-viewing area 110 of the display screen 106, witha target location(s) 400 in the respective viewing area 111. Theprocessor 108 is configured to activate one or more of the hapticactuators 105 to cause a localized haptic effect at the target location400 in the viewing area 111 of the display screen 106. FIG. 5Aillustrates the haptic actuators 105 providing a localized haptic effectacross a large target location 400. FIG. 5B illustrates the hapticactuators 105 providing a localized haptic effect across a smaller, morefocused, target location 400. FIG. 5C illustrates the haptic actuators105 providing a localized haptic effect across two target locations 400.The size, shape, and number of target locations are manipulated by theprocessor 108 through activation of the haptic actuators 105 at varyingfrequency and amplitude patterns.

Activating one of the haptic actuators 105 at a frequency correspondingto a vibrational mode of the display screen 106 sets up atwo-dimensional standing wave pattern in the display screen 106 havingamplitude maximum locations and amplitude minimum locations, asdiscussed above in the one-dimensional case. The standing wave patterninduced by one of the haptic actuators 105 depends on the location ofthe haptic actuator, the vibrational modes of the display screen 106 andthe frequency of activation. Different activation frequencies inducedifferent standing wave patterns. Altering the amplitude of activationof the haptic actuators 105 alters the amplitude of the standing wavepatterns.

The processor 108 is configured to cause a localized haptic effect at atarget location 400 by causing multiple standing wave patterns in thedisplay screen 106 through the activation of one or more of the hapticactuators 105. When superposed, the multiple standing wave patterns forma standing wave interference pattern that results in the localizedhaptic effects at the target locations 400. The multiple standing wavepatterns may be caused by the activation of multiple haptic actuators105 at one or more frequencies, by the activation of a single hapticactuator 105 at multiple frequencies, or by a combination of multiplehaptic actuators 105, each being activated at multiple frequencies.

The processor 108 determines the characteristics of a haptic controlsignal or multiple haptic control signals for activating one or more ofthe haptic actuators 105. When activated by the haptic controlsignal(s), the haptic actuators cause a localized haptic effect at thetarget location (or locations) 400, within the viewing area 111. Thehaptic effect is localized, occurring only within a discrete portion,i.e., the target location 400, of the display screen 106 while onlysubstantially imperceptible haptic effects occur outside of the targetlocation 400. Substantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effectsinclude vibrations or screen movements that are either difficult orimpossible for a user to tactilely detect as well as an absence ofvibrations or screen movements. Although causing the localized hapticeffects with the haptic actuators 105 may cause non-target locations tovibrate, these vibrations are minimized through standing wavesuperposition so as to be faint to a user or to fall below a usertactile perception threshold and thus be tactilely imperceptible.Substantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effects may thus includeminimal or faint haptic effects, imperceptible haptic effects, and/orzero haptic effects. In portions of the display screen 106 wheresubstantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effects occur, anyvibration or movement of the display screen 106 that does occur is smallenough to fall below a user's tactile perception threshold or smallenough to be detected only faintly. In embodiments, any effectsoccurring outside of the target locations 400 are either at or below thelevel of a substantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effect. Thus,the haptic effect occurring within the target location 400 may easily befelt by a user, while it is difficult or impossible for a user to feelthe substantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effects outside of thetarget location 400. In embodiments, a minimally perceptible hapticeffect has a peak to peak acceleration of approximately 0.5 g. Thus, asubstantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effect has a peak to peakacceleration of less than approximately 0.5 g.

In embodiments, the haptic effect occurring within the target location400 may be substantially stronger, i.e., 5, 10, 100, 500 or more timesas strong, than a minimally perceptible haptic effect or a substantiallytactilely imperceptible haptic effect occurring outside of the targetlocation 400.

In determining the haptic control signal, the processor 108 isconfigured to select one or more haptic actuators 105 from among theplurality of haptic actuators 105 for activation. The processor 108 mayselect just one haptic actuator 105 and/or may select any number ofavailable haptic actuators 105. Subsequent to selection of the hapticactuator(s) 105, the processor is configured to output the hapticcontrol signal to the haptic actuators 105 to cause the localized hapticeffect at the target location 105.

The processor 108 activates the selected haptic actuators 105 to producea standing wave interference pattern configured to provide the localizedhaptic effect at one or more target locations 400. The processor 108determines one or more haptic control signals to activate thecorresponding haptic actuators 105 at frequencies and amplitudesselected according to the vibrational modes of the display screen 106,and transmits the one or more haptic control signals to thecorresponding haptic actuators 105. The processor 108 thus selects thehaptic actuators 105 and the haptic control signals to establish one ormore standing wave patterns in the display screen. The one or morestanding wave patterns, when superposed, create an interference standingwave pattern having one or more amplitude maximum locations. The hapticcontrol signals are selected so as to create an interference standingwave pattern having amplitude maximum locations that correspond with thetarget location(s) 400, thus producing localized haptic effects in thoselocations. The interference standing wave pattern is further configuredto produce a substantially tactilely imperceptible, i.e., minimallyperceptible or imperceptible, haptic effect outside of the targetlocation(s) 400.

In embodiments hereof, the one or more target locations 400 may includetwo or more target locations 400, as shown in FIG. 5C. That is, theprocessor 108 may determine the haptic control signal(s) to activate thehaptic actuator(s) 106 to cause a first and a second localized hapticeffect at a first and a second target location. The first and secondlocalized haptic effects may have different target locations 400 thatoverlap or may be discrete from one another. Overlapping targetlocations 400 may coincide with two distinct amplitude maximum locationsthat are close enough together such that there is no area ofsubstantially imperceptible haptic effects between them. The areabetween the amplitude maximum locations still has tactilely perceptiblehaptic effects, although they are diminished away from the amplitudemaximum locations. Target locations 400 that are discrete from oneanother have areas between them of substantially tactilely imperceptiblehaptic effects.

The processor 108 is further configured to determine the haptic controlsignals to activate the haptic actuators 105 to provide localized hapticeffects having specific characteristics. Specific characteristics mayinclude magnitude, frequency, and size of the localized haptic effect.Specific characteristics of the localized haptic effects may furtherinclude ramp-up and ramp-down profiles. Where two or more localizedhaptic effects are provided at two or more target locations 400,specific characteristics between the two or more haptic effects maydiffer. For example, a user may touch the display screen 106 in twoplaces, and a localized haptic effect may be delivered to the user in atarget location 400 corresponding to each of the two places. Each of thetwo localized haptic effects may have different specificcharacteristics.

The processor 108 is further configured to determine the haptic controlsignals to activate the haptic actuators 105 to move a target location400. The processor 108 may dynamically adjust the haptic control signalsto cause the target location 400 to move across the display screen 106.For example, the target location 400 may be moved to guide a user'sfinger or other body part across the display screen 106 to a newlocation on the display screen 106.

In accordance with embodiments hereof, the target locations 400 may beremote from each of the plurality of haptic actuators 105 that areactivated to cause the localized haptic effects associated with eachtarget location 400. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, each of the targetlocations 400 is located away from the plurality of haptic actuators105. The target locations 400 are located such that they are notdirectly above any of the plurality of haptic actuators 105 that causethe localized haptic effect within the target location 400. Further,there are areas of substantially tactilely imperceptible or zero hapticeffects between the haptic actuator 105 locations and the targetlocation 400. The target location 400 may comprise a portion of theviewing area. The processor 108 is configured to determine or select theone or more haptic control signals so as to cause substantiallytactilely imperceptible or zero haptic effects in the viewing areaoutside of the target location 400.

In alternative embodiments, the target locations 400 may not be locatedremote from the haptic actuators 105 that generate the localized hapticeffects. The haptic actuators 105 may generate a localized haptic effectin a target location 400 that coincides with the location of the hapticactuator 105. Use of the interference standing wave pattern, in such anembodiment, may permit such a haptic effect to be localized and notextend across non-target locations of the display screen 106.

In accordance with further embodiments hereof, the processor 108activates the selected haptic actuators 105 to produce a standing waveinterference pattern configured to provide the localized haptic effectat one or more target locations 400 and at non target locations as well.The processor 108 activates the selected haptic actuators 105 to producelocalized haptic effects at the specific target locations 400. Asdiscussed above, the target locations 400 may be selected, e.g., toprovide haptic sensation to a user at a specific point on the displayscreen 106 where the user is contacting the display screen 106. In someexamples, the processor 108 may activate the haptic actuators 105 toproduce a standing wave interference pattern that produces additionalhaptic effects outside of the target locations 400. Because the user iscontacting the screen at the target locations only, such additionalhaptic effects may not be noticed by the user.

In accordance with embodiments hereof, the haptic actuators 105 mayfurther be configured to receive user inputs. Some types of hapticactuators, such as piezoceramic actuators, are capable of converting amechanical input into an electrical output as well as converting anelectrical input into a mechanical output. Accordingly, these actuatorsmay be used both for the provision of haptic effects and for thereception of user inputs. User input to a screen, i.e., pressing ortapping on a screen in a particular location causes mechanicalvibrations that extend across the screen, to areas away from the user'sinitial contact. The haptic actuators 105 may receive those mechanicalvibrations and, in response, convert the vibrations to electricaloutput. The processor 108 may be configured to interpret the electricaloutputs of one or more of the haptic actuators 105 to determine alocation on the display screen 106 of the user input. Thus, a user inputin the viewing area 111 of the display screen 106 may be detected andrecognized by the haptic actuators 105 located in the non-viewing area110 of the display screen.

FIG. 6 illustrates an additional embodiment of a haptically enableddisplay device in accordance with embodiments hereof. The hapticallyenabled display device 550 of FIG. 6 includes a housing 101 and adisplay screen 506 with a plurality of haptic actuators 105 located inthe non-viewing area 110 of the display screen 506, with multiple fixedtarget location(s) 520 in the viewing area 111. The haptically enableddisplay device 550 may further include any or all features describedwith respect to the haptically enabled display device 100. The fixedtarget locations 520 are fixed locations on the display screen 506. Theprocessor 108 is configured to activate the haptic actuators 105 tocause localized haptic effects at one or more of the fixed targetlocations 520. The fixed target locations 520 may correspond tolocations on the display screen 506 that represent user interactionpoints, discrete soft buttons, and/or other points on the screen thatare frequently accessed by a user, such as the “menu,” “home,” and“back,” soft-buttons in the Android® user interface. In embodiments,memory unit 120 may store a library of pre-programmed haptic controlsignals. Each of the pre-programmed haptic control signals may beconfigured to activate the haptic actuators 105 to cause a standing waveinterference pattern for causing one or more haptic effects at the fixedtarget locations 520. Accordingly, the processor 108 may select from aplurality of pre-programmed haptic control signals to cause localizedhaptic effects at known, fixed target locations 520. The pre-programmedhaptic control signals may be optimized through testing of the hapticeffects they cause at the fixed target locations 520.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment including a haptically enabled displaydevice 570 that includes a housing 101 and a display screen 507 with aplurality of haptic actuators 705 located in the viewing area 111 of thedisplay screen 507. The haptically enabled display device 550 mayfurther include any or all features described with respect to thehaptically enabled display device 100. The plurality of haptic actuators705 are transparent, and thus do not interfere with viewing of thescreen. In some embodiments, the viewing area 111 may encompass theentirety of the display screen 507, extending to the edges of thehaptically enabled display device 570, completely eliminating anynon-viewing area 110. The haptically enabled display device 570functions similarly to the haptically enabled display device 100, andincludes the processor 108, which is configured to cause the activationof the haptic actuators 705 to cause localized haptic effects at one ormore target locations 400 on the display screen 507. In embodiments, theone or more target locations 400 are fixed target locations, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an alternative embodiment of a hapticallyenabled display device in accordance with embodiments hereof. Thehaptically enabled display device 600 of FIGS. 8A and 8B includes aplurality of haptic actuators 105 located in a non-viewing area 110 onthe rear of the display screen 106, on an opposite side of the displayscreen 106 from the viewing area 111. FIG. 8A illustrates a first orfront side 113 of the display screen 106 having the viewing area 111extended to edges thereof, while FIG. 8B illustrates a second or rearside 115 of the display screen 106 having the non-viewing area 110. Inother respects, the haptically enabled display device 600 may be similarto the haptically enabled display device 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1and may include any or all components of the haptically enabled displaydevice 100 as discussed above. The design of the haptically enableddisplay device 600, with the haptic actuators 105 in a non-viewing area110 on the rear side of the display screen 106 permits the viewing area110 to extend edge to edge of the display screen 106. Such a form factormay be desirable for both mobile device applications, such as tablets,smart phones, phablets, and gaming devices, as well as stationaryapplications, such as large display screens, informational kioskscreens, and others.

Located on the rear side of the display screen 106, the haptic actuators105 are out of view, and cannot obscure the image on the front side ofthe display screen 106. In such an embodiment, the haptic actuators 105may be placed in locations other than the periphery of the displayscreen 106. The principles and techniques described herein forgenerating localized haptic effects at target locations remote from thehaptic actuators 105 are advantageous in this embodiment, as a smallnumber of haptic actuators 105 are capable of providing haptic effectsat any location on the display screen 106.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an alternative embodiment of a hapticallyenabled display device 700 in accordance with embodiments hereof. Thehaptically enabled display device 700 of FIGS. 9A and 9B includes aflexible display screen 706, with a plurality of haptic actuators 105located in a non-viewing area 110 on the rear side 115 of the displayscreen 106 shown in FIG. 9B, on an opposite side of the display screen106 from the viewing area 111 shown in FIG. 9A. In other respects, thehaptically enabled display device 700 may be similar to the hapticallyenabled display device 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and may include anyor all components of the haptically enabled display device 100 asdiscussed above. Located on the rear side 115 of the display screen 106,the haptic actuators 105 are out of view, and cannot obscure the imageon the front side 113 of the display screen 106. In such an embodiment,the haptic actuators 105 may be placed in locations other than theperiphery of the display screen 106. The principles and techniquesdescribed herein for generating localized haptic effects at targetlocations remote from the haptic actuators 105 are advantageous in thisembodiment, as a small number of haptic actuators 105 are capable ofproviding haptic effects at any location on the display screen 106.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a haptically enableddisplay device 800 in accordance with embodiments hereof. The hapticallyenabled display device 800 of FIG. 10 includes a display screen 106 anda housing 101, with a single continuous haptic actuator 805 located inthe non-viewing area 110 surrounding the viewing area 111. Thecontinuous haptic actuator 805, as illustrated in FIG. 10, is a thinfilm actuator secured to the display screen 106 that forms a completeloop or frame around the viewing area 111. In alternative embodiments,the continuous haptic actuator may include other types of actuatorsknown in the art and may include an actuator housing forming thecontinuous loop or frame around the viewing area 111. In alternativeembodiments, a continuous haptic actuator 805 may extend around two,three, or four sides of the viewing area 111 without forming a completeloop. In other respects, the haptically enabled display device 800 maybe similar to the haptically enabled display device 100 as illustratedin FIG. 1 and may include any or all components of the hapticallyenabled display device 100 as discussed above. The principles andtechniques described herein for generating localized haptic effects attarget locations remote from the haptic actuator 805 are also employedin this embodiment, and the haptic actuators 805 is capable of providinghaptic effects at any location on the display screen 106. Thus, thecontinuous haptic actuator 805 receives, from the processor 108, ahaptic control signal including one or more frequencies at varyingamplitudes. When the one or more frequencies correspond to vibrationalmodes of the display screen 106, standing wave patterns corresponding toeach of the frequencies are induced. The multiple standing wave patternscombine to form a standing wave interference pattern having amplitudemaximum locations at target locations for providing localized hapticeffects.

FIG. 11 is a process diagram illustrating a system for generatinglocalized haptic effects. The following description of FIG. 11 refers tothe haptically enabled display device 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, but mayequally be carried out using the haptically enabled display devices 600,700, 800 and/or any variations of the haptically enabled display devicespresented herein. In embodiments, the functionality of the processdiagram of FIG. 11 may be implemented by software and/or firmware storedin the memory unit(s) 120 and executed by the processor 108 of thehaptically enabled display device 100. In embodiments, functionality ofthe process diagram of FIG. 11 may be carried out by processorsassociated with both a remote computer system and the haptically enableddisplay device 100. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art that the functionality of FIG. 11 may be performed by devicesand systems consistent with the haptically enabled display device 100,haptically enabled display device 600, haptically enabled display device700, haptically enabled display device 800, and/or a haptically enableddisplay device or computer system having another configurationconsistent herewith.

FIG. 11 illustrates a process 900 of delivering haptic effects to aviewing area of a display screen. The process 900 includes deliveringlocalized haptic effects to target locations of a viewing area of adisplay screen while only substantially tactilely imperceptible hapticeffects occur in the viewing area outside of the target locations. Theprocess 900, as discussed below, may be implemented using the hapticallyenabled display devices and their variants, as described above.

In an operation 902, process 900 includes selecting, by the processor,one or more haptic actuators from the plurality of haptic actuatorssecured to the display screen in the non-viewing area. To establish thestanding wave interference pattern for causing the localized hapticeffects, the processor may first select the haptic actuators to beactivated. Due to the different locations of the various hapticactuators, standing wave patterns associated with each may vary. Theprocessor is configured to select the haptic actuators necessary forestablishing the standing wave pattern for causing one or more localizedhaptic effects.

In an operation 904, process 900 includes determining, by the processor,a haptic control signal configured to activate the one or more hapticactuators to cause one or more localized haptic effects at one or moretarget locations in the viewing area of the display screen. The hapticcontrol signal may be determined to activate the one or more hapticactuators at one or more frequencies according to vibrational modes ofthe display screen. Activating one of the haptic actuators at afrequency corresponding to a natural vibrational mode of the displayscreen establishes a standing wave pattern. The superposition ofmultiple standing wave patterns creates a standing wave interferencepattern that provides the localized haptic effects. In embodiments, oneor more of the activated haptic actuators may be actuated at a pluralityof frequencies. That is, a single actuator may receive a haptic controlsignal that causes the haptic actuator to activate according to asuperposition of two or more signals of differing frequencies andamplitudes. The haptic control signal may include a plurality of hapticcontrol signals, each configured to activate a corresponding hapticactuator from the plurality of haptic actuators at at least onefrequency. The haptic control signal may further be configured to causesubstantially imperceptible haptic effects at locations within theviewing area that are outside of the target location.

In an operation 906, process 900 includes transmitting the hapticcontrol signal to one or more of the haptic actuators. The hapticcontrol signal may be transmitted to the selected haptic actuators bythe processor to cause the activation of the selected haptic actuators.

In an operation 908, process 900 includes causing, by one or more of thehaptic actuators, the localized haptic effect at the target location.When the haptic actuators receive the haptic control signal, they arecaused to activate. Activation of the haptic actuators at thefrequencies and amplitudes specified by the haptic control signalestablishes a standing wave interference pattern in the display screen.As discussed above, the processor configures the haptic control signalsuch that the amplitude maximum locations of the standing waveinterference pattern correspond to a target location(s) to producelocalized haptic effects at the target location(s).

Accordingly, the process 900 makes use of haptically enabled displaydevices, as described herein, to produce localized haptic effects in theviewing area of a display screen of the haptically enabled displaydevice.

Thus, there is provided systems, devices, and methods of providinglocalized haptic effects to a display screen. While various embodimentsaccording to the present invention have been described above, it shouldbe understood that they have been presented by way of illustration andexample only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilledin the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not belimited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but shouldbe defined only in accordance with the appended claims and theirequivalents. It will also be understood that each feature of eachembodiment discussed herein, and of each reference cited herein, can beused in combination with the features of any other embodiment. Aspectsof the above methods of rendering haptic effects may be used in anycombination with other methods described herein or the methods can beused separately. All patents and publications discussed herein areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

1. A haptically enabled display device comprising: a display screenhaving a viewing area and a non-viewing area, the display screencomprising a plurality of display components configured for providing avisual display in the viewing area; a plurality of haptic actuatorssecured to the display screen in the non-viewing area; and at least oneprocessor configured to select at least one haptic actuator from amongthe plurality of haptic actuators, determine a haptic control signalconfigured to activate the at least one haptic actuator in thenon-viewing area of the display screen and thereby cause a localizedhaptic effect at a target location that is a discrete portion of theviewing area of the display screen and cause only substantiallytactilely imperceptible haptic effects at locations in the viewing areaoutside of the target location, and transmit the haptic control signalto the at least one haptic actuator to cause the localized haptic effectat the target location.
 2. The haptically enabled display device ofclaim 1, wherein the non-viewing area is configured without displaycomponents.
 3. The haptically enabled display device of claim 1, whereinthe display screen further comprises a transparent layer and asubstrate, the substrate having a display portion including theplurality of display components to define the viewing area and anon-display portion to define the non-viewing area, wherein thetransparent layer overlays the substrate and extends over the displayportion and the non-display portion.
 4. The haptically enabled displaydevice of claim 3, wherein the plurality of haptic actuators are securedto the transparent layer between the transparent layer and thesubstrate.
 5. The haptically enabled display device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is configured to determine the haptic control signal toactivate the at least one haptic actuator at at least one frequencyaccording to vibrational modes of the display screen.
 6. The hapticallyenabled display device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hapticactuator includes two or more haptic actuators of the plurality ofhaptic actuators and the haptic control signal includes two or morehaptic control signals, each of the two or more haptic control signalsbeing determined to activate a corresponding haptic actuator from thetwo or more haptic actuators at at least one frequency according tovibrational modes of the display screen.
 7. The haptically enableddisplay device of claim 1, wherein the target location is a first targetlocation, and the processor is further configured to determine thehaptic control signal to activate at least one haptic actuator fromamong the plurality of haptic actuators so as to cause a secondlocalized haptic effect at a second target location in the viewing areaof the display screen that is different than the first target location.8. The haptically enabled display device of claim 1, wherein the displayscreen is secured to a rigid housing.
 9. The haptically enabled displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the non-viewing area is located on anopposite side of the display screen from the viewing area.
 10. Thehaptically enabled display device of claim 1, wherein the non-viewingarea is located at a periphery of the viewing area.
 11. The hapticallyenabled display device of claim 1, wherein the display screen isflexible.
 12. The haptically enabled display device of claim 1, whereinthe target location is remote from each of the plurality of hapticactuators.
 13. (canceled)
 14. A method of delivering haptic effects to adisplay screen having a viewing area and a non-viewing area, the displayscreen comprising a plurality of display components configured forproviding a visual display in the viewing area, the method comprising:selecting, by at least one processor, at least one haptic actuator fromamong a plurality of haptic actuators secured to the display screen inthe non-viewing area; determining, by the at least one processor, ahaptic control signal configured to activate the at least one hapticactuator to cause a localized haptic effect at a target location that isa discrete portion of the viewing area of the display screen and tocause only substantially tactilely imperceptible haptic effects atlocations in the viewing area outside of the target location;transmitting the haptic control signal to the at least one hapticactuator; and causing, by the at least one haptic actuator, thelocalized haptic effect at the target location.
 15. The method of claim14, further comprising determining the haptic control signal to activatethe at least one haptic actuator at at least one frequency according tovibrational modes of the display screen.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the at least one haptic actuator includes a plurality of hapticactuators and the haptic control signal includes a plurality of hapticcontrol signals, the method further comprising determining each of theplurality of haptic control signals to activate a corresponding hapticactuator from the plurality of haptic actuators at at least onefrequency according to vibrational modes of the display.
 17. The methodof claim 16, further comprising determining the plurality of hapticcontrol signals to establish an interference pattern of vibration in thedisplay, the interference pattern of vibration being configured toprovide the localized haptic effect at the target location.
 18. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the target location is a first targetlocation, the method further comprising determining the haptic controlsignal to activate at least one haptic actuator from among the pluralityof haptic actuators so as to cause a second localized haptic effect at asecond target location, different than the first target location, in theviewing area of the display screen.
 19. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising determining the haptic control signal to cause the localizedhaptic effect at the target location remote from the at least one hapticactuator.
 20. (canceled)